Apple Zaryanka

New variety resistant to scab (gene Vm) with autumn-ripening fruit, developed by the All-Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Selection (Antonovka Krasnobochka x SR0523), obtained through hybridization in 1976. Seed sowing was conducted in 1977. Selected for elite status in 1984.

Breeders: E. N. Sedov, Z. M. Serova, V. V. Zhданov, N. G. Krasova. The variety was accepted for State Testing in the Central Region in 1998 and included in the State Register of Selection Achievements for the Central Region in 1999.

Trees are medium-sized with round, moderately dense crowns. Main branches are straight, branching off the trunk at nearly a right angle, arranged compactly. Bark on the trunk and main branches is smooth and gray. The predominant type of fruit formation is simple and complex rings.

Shoots are straight, medium thickness, round in cross-section, brown, hairy. Buds are pressed, conical, weakly hairy. Leaves are medium-sized, broadly egg-shaped, with spirally twisted tips, green, wrinkled, matte, with coarse veins. Leaf margin is finely toothed and smooth. Petiole is medium length and thick. Flower buds are smooth, medium-sized, conical.

Flowers are large, dish-shaped, buds are white-light-red with a purple tinge, petals are light pink, round or elongated, moderately closed, stigma level with stamens.

Fruits (see photo) are medium-sized (130 g), flattened-round, slightly ribbed, tapered. Fruit skin is smooth, dry, glossy. Main color at harvest maturity is greenish, at consumer maturity — greenish-yellow. Cover color appears on most of the fruit as brown-red stripes on a pink background at harvest maturity and red stripes on a pink background at consumer maturity. Numerous small green subcutaneous dots are visible on the fruit surface. Peduncle is medium length, thick, oblique, with a swelling at the base. Bore is medium depth, blunt-conical, slightly rusted. Calyx is half-open, composed of large sepals. Dish is medium depth, broad, ridged. Fruit core is large, bulbous. Chambers are half-open, medium-sized. Sub-calyx tube is short, narrow, sac-like. Seeds are medium-sized, egg-shaped, brown.

Flesh is creamy, firm, juicy, fine-grained, very succulent, tart-sweet flavor, with a mild aroma. Average multi-year fruit rating — 4.3–4.4 points. Flavor rating — 4.3 points. Chemical composition of the fruit: total sugar content — 12.1%, titratable acids — 0.75%, ascorbic acid — 19.7 mg/100g, P-active substances — 428 mg/100g, pectin substances — 14.7%.

Harvest maturity of fruits occurs in the end of August in the Oryol region. Consumer period lasts from early September to December.

Fruits are excellent raw material for juice production. Juice obtained from Zaryanka variety fruits is rated at 4.4 points for flavor.

The variety is early-fruiting and high-yielding, average yield is 230 centners per hectare.

Trees are sufficiently cold-hardy. During the winter of 1994–1995, when air temperature in the orchard dropped to -36.7ºC, wood freezing of the Zaryanka variety was recorded at 1.1 points, i.e., at the level of freezing of the control variety Osennoe Polosatoye (1.0 points). The variety is relatively resistant to scab.

Advantages of the variety: early fruiting, high yield, fruit quality and taste, suitability for juice production.

Disadvantages of the variety: fruit drop if harvesting is delayed.